Do hand needles make a diffrence? I use James Hand needles but some one just gave me alot of JoAnns Needles. I Know sewing needles make a world of diffrence.But hand needles?

I love the Roxannes size 10 betweens! For me it does make a difference. I find that they don't bend as easily as some of the other brands. I also love the bigger eye that it has.

Debbie KS

Finding the right needle is a huge problem for me, I like a 10 or 12, but they seem to bend so easily anymore.
I will be watching to see what everyone says, and what is the best needle to get!

I think the right needle makes a HUGE difference! I think I've tried them all.. I used to use the James needles, but I don't think they slide through the fabric as easily as the Jeana Kimball Foxglove Cottage needles I use now. But be warned the eyes on these are TINY!! and the needles are very fine. But I love them because with the 12's I can get equally tiny stitches.

Do you use cotton thread with them, and how hard are they to thread.
sometimes when my eyes are tired, I have to go to a 10 in order to get mine threaded.

I agree that there is a huge difference in hand needles!

Some just glide through the fabric -
Some seem to be able to thread more easily -

There is a size 11 Between available - I think it was a James brand -
a little more sturdy and easier to thread than the 12

The numbering system for needles is weird - why is it that the numbers are larger for finer hand sewing needles - and the other way around for machine sewing needles?

I also find a HUGE difference in hand quilting needles. Unfortunately I don't know the brand I am using right now. I got them at Keepsake Quilting last summer. They are #12 and they came in a tiny little glass tube with a tiny little (real) seashell glued to the lid of the tube. I know that doesn't help any but somebody may know what brand is marketed that way. I love them but the eye is teeny tiny. I need my glasses and a magnifier to thread them. I use 100% cotton quilting thread and I always run my thread through beeswax.

I did find this interesting link on a needle review:
http://planetpatchwork.com/needles.htm

I use Kreinek (sp) thread Ninnie.. yep 100% cotton, and I use the hand quilting kind so it's a bit heavier also.. and yes.. sometimes I have trouble threading the needles.. Have to have a Bright light and the strongest readers I own.. I thread a whole tube (the needles come in tubes) on the spool at once. With a thinner thread it might not be such a challenge. But I sure do love those needles.

I adore Roxanne's appliqué needles. I use those for all my hand sewing. They come in a glass vial. Piecemakers are very good too.

I think those James brand needles are crap, and I won't buy any more. They were flaking and leaving little silver flakes of metal on my quilts. I'm now trying out some other brands, so far the best ones I have found are from the thimblelady.